Rost is third generation Helena tavern operator
She was 14 when her parents took over the Yacht Basin at Canyon Ferry.
Pub Date: 2/1/2006
By Paul F. Vang
I wanted no part of the bar business, Peggy Rost says with a laugh, as she tells the story of the Corner Bar, a long-time landmark near Fort Harrison on the western outskirts of Helena.
Peggy is now the third generation to operate the Corner Bar, though the corner has changed.
Peggy s grandparents, Peggy and Joe Slanger, owned and operated the original Corner Bar in downtown Helena. A forerunner of what is now the Wells Fargo Bank purchased the property in the late 1940s.
The Slangers salvaged the neon sign from the downtown location and purchased an existing bar, previously called the Pepper Box, in the Fort Harrison area out where Euclid Ave. becomes U.S. Highway 12.
Peggy s parents, Earl and Pat Warfield, operated the Yacht Basin on Canyon Ferry from 1964 to 1970, and in 1974, purchased the Corner Bar when the Slangers retired.
Dad and Grampa Joe both died in 1987, Peggy recalls, and in 1990 both my mom and grandmother died. Before they died, though, they made it clear that they hoped I d take an interest in it.
It wasn t an easy decision for Peggy, who was in the middle of a 25-year career in state government working as a data entry operator for the Office of Public Instruction. I was 14 when my parents took over the Yacht Basin and I worked as a waitress. I decided I wanted no part of the bar business.
I promised Mother I d give it a try for a couple years. Now it s going on 16 years, she says with a laugh. Peggy took the business under her wing in 1990 and did double duty for five years, working day and night to keep her state job covered and tending bar at night. In 1995 she was able to work out an early retirement from her job and since then has concentrated her efforts on the business.
The Corner Bar building has been a bar since the 1920s. It was previously known as the Pepper Box before the Warfields moved their neon sign from downtown to the business.
There s a lot of history in the neighborhood. In addition to Fort Harrison, there s an open park-like area across the street from the Corner Bar, the former site of a posh resort from the old days, the Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium. The hotel was badly damaged in the earthquakes that rocked Helena back in the mid-1930s and went out of business in the 40s. A framed print over the bar depicts an artist s view of the historic resort.
During World War II years, the Pepper Box was a wild spot, as nearby Fort Harrison was a training facility for joint U.S./Canadian Special Forces, and the Pepper Box was the only bar in the immediate area.
This was before Peggy s time, of course, though she says old veterans occasionally come in to reminisce about the old days.
These days, Fort Harrison draws more traffic from V.A. Hospital patients and visitors than for active military operations, and Peggy says, We get a lot of visitors who stop in on their way to or from the V. A. A lot of the clientele are from smaller towns looking for something like what they re used to back home. They come in and tell us, This is perfect. Don t change a thing.
The Corner Bar still maintains that military connection, however.
I like to cater to servicemen, Peggy comments, it makes sense. In fact, mounted on the wall is a Certificate of Appreciation presented On behalf of the select soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for providing us with a suitable environment for night operations during Operation Coastal Lazer 99, 14-28 August 1999.
Customers tell us we have the best jukebox in town, Peggy says. The same CDs have been on there forever. The jukebox selections are what Peggy refers to as "classic rock n roll and country tunes."
We get a lot of people who like to come out and play pool and our machines, and socialize, of course, she says. The bar hosts pool leagues through the winter, and during the summer, hosts horseshoe leagues in the pits immediately behind the bar.
The personal touch is important. I have a group of ladies that comes out to play pool. I make it a point to be here when they come.
Making ends meet is a struggle at this small bar at the edge of town.
It s slow, Peggy says. I think it s getting that way all over. After paying bills, especially those utilities, people don t have much fun money left ¦and DUI s they re scared to drive across town."
But some new subdivisions are going up in the area. Hopefully, some of those subdivisions coming in will help," she says.
Peggy keeps a lean operation to keep the business going.
Wes Brewer, Peggy s son-in-law, comes in the morning to swamp and then stays on as afternoon bartender. Dave Darlow tends bar on Friday and Saturday nights. Peggy holds down the fort the rest of the time.
Peggy s daughter, and Wes s wife, Juanita, works full time, but provides Peggy with a lot of support. Juanita is my right hand'; when she s available. I take her to meetings and MTA conventions.
Working alone on those weeknights causes some concern for Peggy. If there are people in here that I m comfortable with, I ll be here until 2 a.m. On the other hand, if it s quiet I ll close early. There are always some weirdoes out here at the edge of town.
My Grampa Joe was held up back in the 1960s, Peggy reminisced. Two guys waited until almost closing time and came in with a double-barreled shotgun. They wired his hands together and tied him to pipes in the men s room. They were caught over by White Sulphur Springs. They had lots of wire and tape in the car for more hold-ups.
That was a long time ago, but Peggy continues to exercise caution.
I check to be sure nothing looks suspicious. If there is, I call the police to check things out. I also have a lot of good friends who say, If you need anything, just call.
Peggy Rost laughs, again, when thinking about her early reluctance to get in the bar business, and then struggling, but still sticking with it after 16 years. She thinks about her mother and grandmother, who encouraged her to give it a try.
I think they re looking down and smiling.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Feb., 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.